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D 2, 1924. 1 I F. H. DOERR ZERO SETTING MECHANISM IN ADDING MACHINES Original Filed March 16, 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ave/2721' r60 fiber/ aza or Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,412

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F. H. DQERR ZERO SETTING MECHANISM IN ADDING MACHINES original Filed ma in 16, 1917 4 sheets-sheet 5 Jib/way Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED H. DOERR, F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, 'ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T0 TODD PROTECTOGRAPH'COMPANY, INCO'RPORATED,.OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATIQN OF OBK.

ZERO-SETTING MECHANISM IN ADDING MACHINES.

Original application filed Kai-ch 16, 1917, Serial No. 155,251. Divided and this application filed August 28, 1920. Serial No. 406,534.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FRED H. Donna, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Zero-Setting Mechanism in Adding Machines; and I do hereby declare the follow- .ing to be a full, clear, and exact description chines, upon which Lettersa and purposes of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to adding machines, and particularly to thezero setting mechanism of such machines. The present application is a division of my co -pending application for patent on computing maatent No. 1,398,068 were granted November 22nd, 1921. It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to equip adding machines with means whereby the entire machine may becleared at any time desired, or any unit of the machine likewise cleared as desired, using a comparatively simple mechanism therefor, and one sure'and positive in its working. Many other objects than that stated will appear with understanding of the construction embodying the invention as outlined in the following description, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the adding machine.

Fig. 2 is'a fragmentary side elevation of the upper rear part of the machine, the covering casing therefor being removed.

Fig- 3 isa vertical section through the inachine from front to rear and showing a unit of mechanism therein in cleared position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section on the plane of line 4-4, of Fi 3.

ig. 5 is a fragmentary section similar to that shown in Fig. 3 of the rear or zero setting part of the mechanism, illustrating the first part of the clearing operation.

Fig. 6 is a similar view with the parts in different position, the clearing or zero setting operation having reached its final step.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane of line 7--7, of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 8 is a similar vie on the plane of line 88, of Fig. 3.

. tically enclosing the Like reference characters refere to like parts in the different views of the' drawings.

A base 1 forms a part of the supporting frame on which the adding machine mechanism is mounted, and over which a covering casing of sheet metal is placed pracmechanism except for such parts as extend beyond the casing for manual operation in working the different operations of the machine. This casing is open on its under side and includes a back 2, sides 3 and a top having a rear horizontal section or portion 4 which extends forward substantially one half of the length of the thence curving downwardly in machine, the arc of a circle as indicated at 5, and then curving in the arc of a circle of longer radius to make a curved section 6 substantially one quarter of a circumference in length. At its lower edge the section 6 is turnedforwardly, making a horizontal ledge 7 which is bent to extend downwardly completing the casing by a front 8 as shown. A plurality of openings 9 inspaced apart relation are made through the part 5 of the casing, one for each unit of the machine, as later described, and in the section 6, a plurality of vertical slots 10 are cut, likewise one for each unit of the machine.

The supporting frame for the mechanism is completed by two side plates 11 connected at their lower edges to the base 1 and located one adjacent each side 3 of the covering casing. A rod or shaft 12 extends across between the plates 11 a short distance back of and, below the curved section 5 and is supported at its ends by said side plates. On this shaft a plurality of indicating disks 13 are individually mounted for rotation, one for each unit of the machine, and on the same a consecutive series of fi ures, reading from 0 to ,9are laced, one 0 said figures showing through the associated opening 9 in front of the disk at all times. A pinion 14 having ten teeth is connected withv each disk 13 so as to move therewith.

A second rod. or shaft 16 is disposed horizontally between sides 11 and carried thereby, its axis bein substantially in the same line with the axis of curvature of the section 6 of the casing. A plurality of individually operable computing units are rotatably mounted in alinement on shaft 15. E ach includes a hub 16 positioned over the shaft, a ratchet wheel with forty teeth as indicated at 17, a gear wheel 18. also hav ing forty teeth and mounted with the ratchet wheel at one end of the hub, and a cam member 19 secured at the opposite end of the hub. Gear wheel 18 is in mesh with a pinion 14 in each unit. -The cam member 19 comprises a disk of sheet metal in the edges of which at four equally spaced points, shoulders 20 are cut inwardly toward but to one side of the center of rod 15, the metal from the inner point of each shoulder to the outer point of the next succeeding shoulder being cut away so as to form cam surfaces or edges having a progressively increasing radius of curvature outward.

An operating member 22 in the shape of a uadrant is loosely mounted on each hub 16 c osely adjacent the gear and ratchet wheels thereon, each quadrant being formed at its outer curved portion where it projects through a slot 10 in the casing with a plurality of radial projections 23 between which theefingers of the operator maybe inserted for manual operationof the members. The spaces between the pro'ections 23 in the normal upper position 0 'saidmembers come in alinement with columns 24 of figures running from 1 to 9 consecutively upward on the curved section 6 of the casing and lying one to the left of each slot. There is also a column of figures, indicated at 24 at the right of the right hand slot 10, as shown in Fig. 1, and running from 0 to 8 downwardly. Each member 22 is normally held in upper position by a spring 25 attached at one end to a downwardly extending arm 26 formed on each member 22, all of the springs at *their other ends having connectlon to a cross rod 27. A hook 28 is pivot ally connected at one end to each quadrant member 22 and is normally drawn by a spring 29 into connection with the adjacent ratchet wheel 17 at its hooked end as soon as the member 22 is moved away from upper position, thereby impelling the rotation of the entire unit with the member 22 as is obvious. In the uppermost positions of the members 22, the inclined under sides of hooks 28 lie against the inclined upper side of a cross bar 30, lifting the hooks from engagement with the ratchet wheels as shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 5. g

A dog 31 is adapted to enga e with each ratchet wheel 17 and hold it rom any reverse movement, all of the dogs being pivotally mounted on a sin 1e cross rod 32. A vertically positioned re atively large dog 33 lies back of each cam member 19, all of said dogs 33 having -a pivotal mounting on a common cross rod 34 and the upper end of each dog bearing against the cam surfaces of the cam members through spring ressure induced by sprmgs 38 connected to t e lower ends of the dogs 33 and connected at their rear ends to the cross rod 39. A bell crank lever having two arms 35 and 36 is pivotally mounted on each dog 33, the arms 36 extending rearwardly and being connected each by a coiled spring 37 with the dog 31 above at a point in front of its pivot, thereby causing said dog to engage with the ratchet wheel 17 in front of it and the end of arm 35 with the same ratchet wheel; It will be noted, however, that the ratchet wheel thus engaged is on the next unit of the mechanism to the left and not on the same unit with which the cam member 19, against which the dog 33 bears,*is associated and connected.

-The foregoing mechanism thus far de-,,

ject matter of the present invention and machines filed! with which the mechanism described 00- operates in zero setting as will later ap an.

"A clearing bar 40 is positioned bac and associated with each unit of the machine, all of the bars 40 being vertically positioned and passing through upper and lower transverse plates 41-and 42, and extending at their upper ends through openings in the top 4 of the case. A coiled spring 43 attached to each bar 40 and the upper transverse plate 41 normally holds each bar in an upper position, in which a sto projection 44 integral with each bar is brought against the underside of the plate 41. Each bar 40 at its upper end is equipped with a head 45 against which pressure is made to depress the same. Upper and lower pins 46 and 47 project laterally in opposite directions from each of the clearing bars whereby, on depression of any bar, said pins are brought, respectively, into engagement with the rear end, of the dog 31 engaged with the ratchet wheel 17 of the unit with which the depressed bar 40 is associated, and with the arm 36 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 35 of which bears against the ratchet wheel 17 of the unit to the left. There is also a third pin 47 on each clearing bar 40 directly back of its P ll 47 but extending in the opposite direction over an arm 36-of the bell-crank lever which en ages with the sameratchet wheel 17 with w ich said dog 31 is engaged. Each clearing bar has a notch 48 cut therein at its rear edge and ashort distance below its upper end fwhich, when the bar has been partially depressed, adapts it to be turned slightly to the rear to engage with the plate 41, as shown in Fig. 5, a part of the plate entering the notch and thus lockin the clearing bar against movement until released. This partially depressed position of the clearing bar is useful in the process of subtraction, as -ex lained in the aforesaid Letters Patent. he clearing bar in this position serves to release the corresponding ever 35-36, carried by the dog, 33, and is thus adapted to prevent the carrying over of units during the process of subtraction, as fully explamed in said Letters Patent.

It will be noted that when depressed this amount, the" pins 4; and 47 have engaged with their respective bell crank arms 36 but that pin 46 has not yet come into engagement with its dog 31. Normally on depression and release of each bar 40, it returns to upper osition, being drawn from connection with-plate 41 by a spring'49, one of which is attached to each bar 40 and at its op osite end to a cross rod as shown.

a transverse rod 51 located below the rear ends of dogs 31, a plurality of irregularly shaped members 52,- one for each unit .of the machine, are pivotally mounted and extend downwardly therefrom. Said members bend to the rear for a distance below the pivot and then extend straight down for a somewhat longer .distance, being thence curved forward at their lower ends to make portions 53, each of which at its end is pivotally connected to a member 54. All of the members 54 are loosely mounted ona cross rod 55.

A kicker 56 passes loosely at its rear end through an opening in the vupper end of each member 54 and at its front end passes through a vertical slot in a vertically ositioned plate 58, the slots 57 for all o the kickers being cut in the same plate 58. Plate 58 is located below and back of the units of the machine. The kickers lie directly back of and are in the same vertical planes with the gear wheels 18. The rear end of each kicker is formed into a threaded rod portion 56 on which an adjusting nut is placed and a spring 59 is connected to the rear end of each kicker and to the parts 53 of members 52 with which the kickers are associated. Coiled s rings 60 are attached at their upper an s to the plate 41 and at their lower ends to the members 52 back of the pivot rod 51 therefor, the effect of which is to normally turn members 52 and 54 rearwardly until stopped by the engagement of the forward ends of the kickers with the plate 58, the kickers occupying the upper portions of the slots 57 and bearing at their upper edges against the plate. A strong spring 61 is interposed between and connects each clearing bar '40 with an ad'acent member 52 as shown. r..-

en it. is desired to clear a unit of the spring 60 and turns member 52 forward about its pivot rod 51 until the front end of the associated kicker 56 en a es with a tooth of the gear wheel 18 of he unit to be cleared. Tl'llS happens as soon as or very shortly after the initiation of the downward movement of the clearing bar 40. The next occurrence is the engagement of pin 47 with the arm 36 of the bell crank lever engaged with the ratchet wheel 17 of the unit to be cleared, and at the same time the ratchet wheel 17 of the unit to the left is hlso freed of the arm 35 of its bell crank lever by similar engagement of pin 47 with the arm 36 forming a part of the lever. Finally, pin 46 engages against the rear end of dog 31' depressing the rear part of the dog and elevating the front end'thereby disengaging the same from the ratchet wheel 17 of the unit to be cleared. In the meantime, the end of the kicker 56 has been forced against the gear wheel 18 with a constantly increasing pressure due to the fact that spring 61 has been farther stretched so that by the time dog 31 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 17, the spring 61 has a relatively large store of energyto impart to the kicker as soon as the computing unit to be cleared is free to receive it, this occurring as soon as do 31 is disen aged and the unit left free to turn. The icker is projected forwardand gives a rotary movement to the gear wheel 18 and the parts connected therewith in a reverse direction, and the movement con tinues until stopped by the engagement of dog 33 with a shoulder 20. of the cam member 19 of the unit cleared, the unit being sociated indicating disk 13 showing through opening 9. It will be noted that the connection of the kicker 56 to the member 54 is loose and that the kickeris formed with an inclined surface 62 in front'of the upper end of said member 54 so designed that after the impulse has been given to the gear wheel, the kicker disengages therefrom and drops to a lower position, as shown in Fig. 6, being out of the way of the gear wheel in its rotation with a consequent elimination of noise which would occur if they were in contact.

To clear the entire machine at one operation, all of the clearing bars 40 may be manually depressed from above at the same time, but in practice, I have designed, a.

single manually operable device for accom-.

and fixed thereto, one of which lies over each pin 46. An arm 65 is connected to and depends from one end of shaft 63 to which a link 66- is pivotally connected at its rear end, the same extending forward and having pivotal connection to one arm 67 of a bell crank lever which is pivotally mounted on a screw 68 threading through the end 11 of the supporting frame and into one end of shaft 15. The other arm 69. of the bellcrank lever projects upwardly above the machine and is provided with an operating head 70 at its upper end. The lever and link 66 lie on the outer side of part 11 of the supporting frame while arm 65 is onthe inner side thereof, necessitating that a curved slot 71 be cut in the part 11 while in the covering casing a slot 72 is cut, as shown in Fig. 1, for the arm 69. It is evident by turning the bell-crank lever about its pivotal connection, a rotation is given to shaft 63 causing all of the fingers 64 to move downwardly at their front ends, with a consequent downward operation of all of'the clearing bars 40 in unison, all of the indicating disks 13 being set so that their zero characters show through the openings 9 in the covering casing.

The operations of adding and subtracting which may be performed on this machine are fully described in the original applica tion of which this application is a division. The performance of the transfer mechanism is outlined in the copending divisional application; The zero setting mechanism of the present application is positive and sure in operation and is compactly associated with the remainder of the machine. This zero setting mechanism is susceptible of 'many changes in constructive detail without change of the invention, and all such modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims defining the invention are to be considered as comprehended by the invention.

I claim:

1. In an adding machine, a shaft, a plurality of computing units rotatably mounted along the length of the shaft, indicating disks rotatably mounted anddrivenby the computing units, one disk for each unit, means for individually operating each unlt in one direction, means normally preventing reverse movement, individual clearing means for each unit for freeing a unit independently of the other units for reverse movement and giving it an impulse to move in a reverse direction, and additional means for stopping the unit with the disk associated therewith in a predetermined position.

2. In an adding machine, a horizontal shaft, a computing unit'rotatably mounted thereon including a hub, a gear wheel fixed at one end of the hub and a cam member fixed at the other end thereof, saidcam member comprising a plurality of shoulders with dog engages against a shoulder on the cam member.

8. In an adding machine, a seriesof rotatably mounted computing units, a, vertically mounted clearing bar slidably mounted back of and associated with each unit, mechanism interposedbetween each bar and its L- associated unit for clearing the unit on depression of the bar, a-pin extendin from each bar, a shaft rotatably mounte' adjacent the bars, a plurality of fingers, one for each bar, fixed at one end on the shaft and extending at the opposite ends over the pins, and means to rotate the shaft to engage the fingers with all of the pins and operate all of the clearing bars in unison.

4. In an adding machine, a series of rotatably mounted computing units, a vertically mounted clearing bar slidably mounted back of and associated with each unit, mechanism interposed between each bar and its associated unit for clearingthe unit on depression of the bar, a movably mounted clearing lever, and means connected thereto and interposed between the same and all of the clearing bars for simultaneously depressing all of the bars together, substam tially as and for the purposes described.

5. In an adding machine, a shaft, a plurality of computing units rotatably mounted thereon, vertical clearing-bars, one for each unit mounted back of the units, mechanism interposed between each bar and its associated unit whereby said unit is cleared on depression of the bar, a second shaft rotatably mounted adjacent the bars, inter engaging means on the shaft'an'd bars for depressing all of the bars simultaneously on rotation of the shaft in one direction, an arm secured to and depending from one end of the second shaft, a lever plvotally mounted between its ends in front ofthe second shaft, and a link connecting one end of the lever with the arm, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In an adding machine, a shaft, a plumember secured at the other end of each unit and adjacent the toothed wheel of the next unit, said clam member including a plurality of shoulders and cam surfaces disposed between, a spring operated dog bearing against each'cam' member, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on each dog and having one arm engaging .the toothed wheel of the adjacent unit and the other arm extending rearwardly, a second dog pivotally mounted between its ends and engaging one with each toothed wheel to prevent reverse movements of the units, a clearing bar for each unit slidably mounted back thereof, an upper pin on each bar projecting overthe rear ends of said second dogs, two-lower pins. on each bar extending laterally in opposite directions above the rearwardly extending arms of the two adjacent bell crank levers,

said latter pins being locatedcloser to the arms of the bell crank levers than the upper pins are to the dogs, and means interposed between each clearing bar and its associated unit for rotating it in a reverse direction after freeing the toothed wheelof said retaining dog and bell crank lever by engagement of the pins therewith.

' unit comprising a rotatablg' 7. In an adding machine, a plurality of computing units, means for rotatably mounting the same in horizontal alinement, means. for turning the units individually in one direction, individual means normally engaging with each unit for preventi reverse movement thereof, means for freeing a selected one or more of the units of said reverse prevention means, means for impart ing a reverse rotary movement to said units with the freeing thereof for said movement, and means for stopping eachv unit at a predetermined point following reverse movement thereof, substantially as described.

-8. In an adding machine, a computing mounted hub and a toothed, wheel secure thereto, a dog pivotally mounted between its ends back of the unit and engaging therewith, means to turn the unit in a forward direction, an indicating disk driven by the toothed wheel, a vertical bar slidably mounted back of the unit, means yieldingly holding the bar in uppe. 'tion, a pm projecting from the bar a distance above the rear end of the dog, a kicker movably mounted behind the lower part of the toothed wheel, means for forcing the kicker against the wheel on depremion of the bar and continually increasing the-force ofsaid pressure with the further downward movement of said bar,

whereby when said in engages and releases thedog the unitwill be given an impulse to turn in a reverse direction, and means, to stop the unit at a predetermined position, substantiallyas described.

diskassociated unit, means for each unit stopping turning cam wheel having. a plurality on the rod and 9, In an adding machine, a rotatably v mounted computing unit including a gear Wheel and an indicating disk driven thereby, means for turning said unit in agjforward-- direction, means to stop movemeiitin a reverse direction, ,7 a vertical clearing bar slidably mounted back of the unit, means yieldingly holding the bar in. upper position, a kicker located back of the unit and below its'axis of rotation, means interposed between the-bar and kicker for forcing the kicker against the gear wheel on depressing the bar, spring means continually increased in tension by the downward movement of the bar and acting against the kicker after it has engaged with the gear wheel, and means on the bar to release the reversestop means on depression of the clearing bar to a certain point, substantially asdescribed.

10. In an adding machine, a plurality of computing units mounted for individual rotation on a single support, an indicating with and driven by each movement in a rearward direction, individual manually operable means for turning each unit in a forward direction, an in- 9.0

dividual means for each unit for manually releasing the stop reverse movement means thereof, means automatically operable by said operation of the releasing means for driving the unit in a when released, and additional means for each unit for stopping the same in its reverse movementwhen its associated disk has attained a predetermined position, substantially as described. 7 11. In an adding machine, a horizontal I shaft, a plurality of computing units rotatably mounted thereon, each including a hub loose on the shaft, a cam member secured at one end of the hub and a toothed 1 wheel at the opposite end of the hub,"said of equally spaced shoulders with cam surfaces between them, a rod located back of the units and below the shaft, a plurality of dogs mounted beari with spring pressure at their upper en s, one against each cam member, means for turning each unit individually in a forward direction, a pivot- ,ally mounted dog engaging with each unit to hold it against reverse movement, individual manually operable means for releasing any of said last mentioned dogs, means for rotating the units rearwardly as soon as the dogs are released, each of said units turning to the rear until stopped by engagement of its associated first mentioned dog against a shoulder of the cam member of the unit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

' FRED H. DOERR.

rearward direction 95 l 

